Insight: June 1

Tuesday night’s Insight tackles the hot subject of people smugglers and immigration.

The forum will include the Minister for Immigration, Chris Evans, MP Philip Ruddock, advocates, former refugees and voters.

Coming up on ‘Insight’: will Rudd’s new laws stop the boats and put an end to people smuggling?

See an exclusive interview on ‘Insight’ with an alleged people smuggler in Indonesia. Why does he think there has been an increase in the amount of boats arriving on Australian shores? Will these laws make a difference?

According to Immigration Minister Chris Evans: “These measures will make it tougher for people smugglers to ply their trade and bring additional rigour to the processing of claims for protection.”

In spite of the 2007 election promise for a more humane approach to asylum seekers, the Government has announced new polices to crack down on people smuggling and slow the number of boats arriving unannounced in Australian waters.

More than 100 boats have arrived since Federal Labor axed the previous government’s Pacific Solution and the Christmas Island detention centre is full to overflowing.

In an attempt to stop the boats the Government has decided to suspend asylum claims from Sri-Lankan and Afghan nationals and re-open mainland detention centres.

It’s also pushed through new legislation strengthening Australia’s laws against people smuggling.

Human rights activists have slammed the Government’s new policies saying Australia is breaching international law and returning to the Howard-era policy of indefinite detention.

But despite new laws a recent Newspoll shows 44% of people believe the Coalition would best handle the issue of asylum seekers arriving into Australia compared with only 26% of people supporting Labor.

How should the Government deal with asylum seekers? Insight brings together the Minister for Immigration, Chris Evans, MP Philip Ruddock, advocates, former refugees and Australian voters to find out.

Hosted by Jenny Brockie, it airs 7:30pm Tuesday on SBS ONE.